Positive Trend in Unemployment Amid Investigation into Labor Market Practices
Sweden sees a decline in unemployment as investigations into anti-competitive practices unfold.
- • Total unemployed in Sweden now at 364,220 as of week 39.
- • Declining unemployment indicates a positive trend in the labor market.
- • Investigation into anti-competitive practices affects public contracts.
- • Companies implicated in securing contracts worth hundreds of millions.
Key details
In a recent report, the Swedish labor market has shown signs of improvement with a notable decrease in unemployment. As of week 39, the total number of unemployed individuals in Sweden has fallen to 364,220, suggesting an encouraging trend for job seekers and the economy, according to a report from Di (ID: 79330). This drop reflects a wider recovery as fewer individuals are actively looking for work.
However, this optimistic development is underpinned by troubling allegations against a major private supplier to Arbetsförmedlingen, Sweden's Public Employment Service. The Competition Authority of Sweden (Konkurrensverket) has launched an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices by this supplier. Reports indicate that certain companies within the same corporate group are suspected of colluding to secure lucrative contracts—worth hundreds of millions of Swedish kronor—by allegedly incentivizing competitors to withdraw from procurement processes for labor market training programs (ID: 79320).
These investigations could lead to significant implications for both public contracts and future labor market dynamics if the allegations are substantiated.